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Since February of 2019, Lacy, suffered from one illness after another. She endured infection after infection, multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids, without success. At one of her many visits to the doctor, Lacy mentioned a change that occurred in one of her breasts. The doctor examined Lacy and scheduled a same day mammogram, this was May 7, 2019, the day that changed our life. All the medical staff just repeated the same three words, “I am sorry.”
Between May 7, 2019 and May 17, 2019, Dex and Lacy, were nonstop, going from one doctor’s appointment to the next; one test to the next; and biopsy after biopsy. Some days were multiple appointments in different locations.
On May 17 2019, Lacy was officially diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Stage 2B, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). She was also informed the tumor went from 4cm to 5cm in only seven days, which was time period between mammograms.
Prior to surgery, to place the chemotherapy port, the Oncologist ordered a PET scan for Lacy and scheduled this for May 21, 2019. At 6:30 a.m. on May 21, 2019, Lacy received a phone call from University Radiology. She hung up the phone and began crying. University Radiology called to cancel her PET scan, as their health insurance declined to pay for it. Lacy and Dex, showed up for her appointment to see what their options were. They were told the insurance company wanted an inconclusive MRI and CT scan before insurance would authorize a PET scan. More bad news, the MRI and CT scan could not take place on May 21, 2019, and would have to be scheduled out and no time frame could be provided. Remember, rare and aggressive TNBC and the tumor which grew 1cm in seven days? Was this really their only option? “No, you can pay for it yourself, but it needs to be paid in full today, before we can conduct the PET Scan.” What is the cost of a life, which is really what this is all about, you’re wondering? At University Radiology, the PET scan cost them $4.041.00. Dex is still working with (fighting) the insurance company, in an attempt to recover some or all, of the $4,041.00.
On May 27, 2019, on Memorial Day, Lacy and Dex were walking their dog, Blue. A tiny black fly (gnat) bit lacy on the face near her eye. The bite became infected and turned into Cellulitis. After several days of outpatient IV antibiotics, the infection was not responding, and grew worse. Back to the Emergency Room at Upstate, where she was admitted and received three days of IV antibiotics every six hours. Finally on the third day, Lacy was cleared to be discharged and sent home to fill yet another prescription for antibiotics. This was not only a setback for Lacy but her cancer team too. The recent infection caused Lacy’s surgeon to reschedule the chemotherapy port and further pushed her treatment back.
On June 6, 2019, Lacy was finally healthy enough to have surgery and her chemotherapy port was placed. More pain and stitches, but she held up well. After surgery, Lacy was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, yet another setback. Lacy’s chemotherapy was placed on hold for an additional week to allow for Lacy to receive another course of antibiotics. Lacy is now on a first name basis with the Pharmacist, by the way.
On June 20, 2019, Chemotherapy finally happened. Lacy receives what the doctors call AC Chemotherapy. The A portion of AC is commonly referred to, by those who have received it,as the “Red Devil”, due to the side effects. Each chemotherapy treatment lasts about four hours. Lacy will continues with the “Red Devil for two more weeks. The side effects from previous six weeks of AC, are debilitating, leaving Lacy without the energy to accomplish most routine tasks. These same tasks, Lacy would have breezed through, prior to cancer and chemotherapy, as any of you who know Lacy, can attest to.
When Lacy finishes the AC, she will begin another form of Chemotherapy called Taxotere. She will receive the Taxotere, weekly for twelve weeks. If all goes well, the next step in this process will be surgery and then radiation therapy. Lacy will receive radiation therapy, five days a week for eight to ten weeks.
Due to a mountain of medical and travel expenses, their savings is depleted, credit cards maxed and debt keeps growing thanks to co-pays for each office visit, treatments, surgical procedures, pharmacy, and of course hospitalizations.
Thank you for taking the time to read Lacy’s story.
Between May 7, 2019 and May 17, 2019, Dex and Lacy, were nonstop, going from one doctor’s appointment to the next; one test to the next; and biopsy after biopsy. Some days were multiple appointments in different locations.
On May 17 2019, Lacy was officially diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Stage 2B, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). She was also informed the tumor went from 4cm to 5cm in only seven days, which was time period between mammograms.
Prior to surgery, to place the chemotherapy port, the Oncologist ordered a PET scan for Lacy and scheduled this for May 21, 2019. At 6:30 a.m. on May 21, 2019, Lacy received a phone call from University Radiology. She hung up the phone and began crying. University Radiology called to cancel her PET scan, as their health insurance declined to pay for it. Lacy and Dex, showed up for her appointment to see what their options were. They were told the insurance company wanted an inconclusive MRI and CT scan before insurance would authorize a PET scan. More bad news, the MRI and CT scan could not take place on May 21, 2019, and would have to be scheduled out and no time frame could be provided. Remember, rare and aggressive TNBC and the tumor which grew 1cm in seven days? Was this really their only option? “No, you can pay for it yourself, but it needs to be paid in full today, before we can conduct the PET Scan.” What is the cost of a life, which is really what this is all about, you’re wondering? At University Radiology, the PET scan cost them $4.041.00. Dex is still working with (fighting) the insurance company, in an attempt to recover some or all, of the $4,041.00.
On May 27, 2019, on Memorial Day, Lacy and Dex were walking their dog, Blue. A tiny black fly (gnat) bit lacy on the face near her eye. The bite became infected and turned into Cellulitis. After several days of outpatient IV antibiotics, the infection was not responding, and grew worse. Back to the Emergency Room at Upstate, where she was admitted and received three days of IV antibiotics every six hours. Finally on the third day, Lacy was cleared to be discharged and sent home to fill yet another prescription for antibiotics. This was not only a setback for Lacy but her cancer team too. The recent infection caused Lacy’s surgeon to reschedule the chemotherapy port and further pushed her treatment back.
On June 6, 2019, Lacy was finally healthy enough to have surgery and her chemotherapy port was placed. More pain and stitches, but she held up well. After surgery, Lacy was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, yet another setback. Lacy’s chemotherapy was placed on hold for an additional week to allow for Lacy to receive another course of antibiotics. Lacy is now on a first name basis with the Pharmacist, by the way.
On June 20, 2019, Chemotherapy finally happened. Lacy receives what the doctors call AC Chemotherapy. The A portion of AC is commonly referred to, by those who have received it,as the “Red Devil”, due to the side effects. Each chemotherapy treatment lasts about four hours. Lacy will continues with the “Red Devil for two more weeks. The side effects from previous six weeks of AC, are debilitating, leaving Lacy without the energy to accomplish most routine tasks. These same tasks, Lacy would have breezed through, prior to cancer and chemotherapy, as any of you who know Lacy, can attest to.
When Lacy finishes the AC, she will begin another form of Chemotherapy called Taxotere. She will receive the Taxotere, weekly for twelve weeks. If all goes well, the next step in this process will be surgery and then radiation therapy. Lacy will receive radiation therapy, five days a week for eight to ten weeks.
Due to a mountain of medical and travel expenses, their savings is depleted, credit cards maxed and debt keeps growing thanks to co-pays for each office visit, treatments, surgical procedures, pharmacy, and of course hospitalizations.
Thank you for taking the time to read Lacy’s story.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lacy Washer
Beneficiary